Sen. Robert Menendez Aims To Keep Hidden Airline Fees Grounded

NEWARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork) — U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez is fighting against sticker shock when it comes to airfares.

The senator from New Jersey on Monday told reporters, including WCBS 880’s Jim Smith and 1010 WINS’ Al Jones, he’s proposing legislation this week that will continue to force airlines to fully disclose the total price of a flight upfront.

“Exactly what the airline charge is going to be — no gimmicks, no hidden costs,” Menendez said at Newark Liberty Airport.

Sen. Robert Menendez Aims To Keep Hidden Airline Fees Grounded

“We may be living in the Information Age, but for passengers trying to understand the full cost of their airfare, sometimes it feels more like the Stone Age,” he said.

The senator said a bill now in the House threatens to let airlines separate taxes from the price and add them on at the end of the transaction. Menendez said it’s important to know those fees, but the bottom line needs to remain clear to consumers.

Sen. Robert Menendez Aims To Keep Hidden Airline Fees Grounded

Menendez said he also wants to double the penalty for violators, up to a maximum $55,000 a day.

“A couple of hundred dollars per traveler is going to make a big difference at the end of the day as to whether or not you can afford that flight,” he said.